May Means: Music Matters Ohio’s Instrument Drive
If you’ve been meaning to take that clarinet out of the closet or get rid of that old violin, you’re in luck! There’s a great reason to motivate you this month. Introducing: Music Matters Ohio, a collaborative project started by several music organizations throughout the state of Ohio, hoping to donate all kinds of instruments to beginning musicians in need. This effort builds up to a giant instrument drive at the end of the month, on Saturday, May 30th.
According to the website, “Music Matters Ohio is the statewide initiative dedicated to expanding access to music education in our schools by placing gently used and new instruments in our schools and the deserving hands of Ohio students.”
If you’ve been involved in music education in Ohio before, whether being taught as a student, teaching or volunteering, you might recognize some of the organizations taking part in this effort. The Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA), Ohio Alliance for Arts Education (OAAE), Ohio Foundation for Music Education (OFME) and Ohio Arts Council have all banded together (pun intended) with thousands of teachers and volunteers to make a difference in the lives of young musicians.
Bruce Garfield has worn many different music-based business coats in the past, one of them being the Executive Director of the Columbus Music Commission. He dons a new one this year as the State Director of Music Matters Ohio, and explains the inspiration behind the project.
“Across Ohio, countless new and gently used instruments sit unused, while students eager to participate in band, orchestra, and music classes are unable to do so because they lack access to an instrument,” Garfield says.
“Music Matters Ohio bridges this gap by inviting Ohio residents to donate instruments, allowing our organization to refurbish them when needed, and distribute them to schools where they will be put to immediate use.”
On May 30th, almost 20 locations throughout the state will be open for instrument drop-offs, Cincinnati and Dayton included. Through the hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, anyone can bring in any instrument, from strings to brass, ranging from new to old. If you’re unsure about the condition of your instrument, it’s encouraged that you bring it anyways. After the drive is over, each contribution will be evaluated, and when needed, cleaned and refurbished to a playable condition.
If you don’t have an instrument to donate, but you’d still like to help in some way, there are a couple of options. Monetary donations are also accepted and encouraged, and you can find a link and more information about donating on Music Matters Ohio’s contact page. You can also donate your time by volunteering for the May 30th instrument drive or for future events.
Cincinnati’s instrument drive will be located at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts downtown, while Dayton features two locations, Music Go Round in Kettering and Northwestern High School in Springfield. You can find more information for each place on their respective websites. To view a list of all 17 locations, please visit the Collection Sites page of Music Matters Ohio’s website.
“At a time when schools face increasing pressures and limited resources, it is more important than ever to support music education and ensure students have the tools they need to participate. In doing this, Music Matters Ohio also has a great shot at setting a new Guinness Book World Record for the largest instrument drive in history.” comments Garfield.
“When a young person learns to play a musical instrument, the impact goes far beyond the notes they play. Music and music education build confidence, discipline, creativity, and a sense of belonging. It teaches perseverance and teamwork, and it helps students discover their own voice. To ensure the success of this initiative we are asking for your help.”
For more information, please visit Music Matters Ohio’s website.
